Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes
to the Streets
(2008)
by Sudhir
Venkatesh
The author describes himself
as a "rogue sociologist," a bold bit of branding that's more than
just posturing. Tired of the stilted
questionnaires and lack of human feeling in poverty research, Venkatesh one day
takes it upon himself to walk straight up to a high-rise in Chicago and talk to
the drug dealers. He's accosted roughly
and initially mistaken for a Hispanic, but one charismatic middle-level dealer,
JT, is impressed with Venkatesh's bravado and allows him to see the day to day
life of the people in the projects as well as some of the seedier aspects of
gang life in the Black Kings. For ten
years, Venkatesh remained a somewhat trusted figure, an outsider for sure,
albeit one with privileges as a sympathetic observer, and every once in a while
getting his hands dirty (or his feet – at one point he joins in the beatdown of
a woman-abusing junkie). Eventually
Venkatesh is even allowed to make the rounds of the South Side and even suggest
ways to iron out squabbles and problems that JT deals with.
There are problems with this sort of rogue
ethnography, of course. Venkatesh is for
better or worse an ally of the Black Kings, and thus may not be allowed to see
the toll their protection racket may take on civilians, small business owners,
and others trying to get by. However,
it's fascinating to hear how the gangs act as de facto police in the area,
dispensing favors and settling disputes.
The real police, like EMTs, rarely come to the projects, so certainly
the Kings are providing a needed service, but are they filling a need left by a
racist system or, through violence, creating a reason for their interference
and growing power? It's more likely
closer to the latter; JT isn't stupid, and uses Venkatesh for his own ends, as
when he takes economic data recorded by the sociologist to extract more
tribute. In all, this is an eye-opening
and enthralling look at a too-often hidden side of poverty in America, although
since it's through the lens of a crack dealer in a high-rise in the '90s, it's
a bit skewed.
No comments:
Post a Comment